updated 03:05 pm EDT, Tue October 28, 2008

Windows 7 First Details

Microsoft at its Professional Developer Conference today provided a first look at Windows 7, the company's successor to Vista. The operating system is based heavily on the underlying framework of Vista but focuses heavily on redesigning the interface. The Windows taskbar and the general interface has been improved to speed up common tasks: running apps are simplified to icons and now include Jump Lists that provide shortcuts to common tasks for running apps, such as queuing up playlists in Windows Media Player. Pointing at each item on the taskbar also lets users "peek" at the contents of a running app without having to select the window.

An extra feature known as Libraries also creates directory-independent file organization. Users can browse their picture libraries sorted into groups by their metadata, for example, rather than having to manually create regular or smart folders.

The "ribbon" interface from Office 2007 has now spread into core operating system apps such as Paint and changes the toolbar's buttons based on context, exposing more features without having to search menus.

The software firm has also addressed some complaints with Vista and earlier versions of Windows. The system tray no longer automatically shows third-party icons by default and lets users choose which ones to show. The gadget sidebar has been scrapped in favor of a place-anywhere design that lets users personalize the desktop.

Performance has also improved significantly, the company says. While Windows Vista was previously kept off netbooks due to its sluggish performance on low requirements, Windows 7 should run smoothly on systems using Intel Atom processors and other low-performance systems. Windows engineering senior VP Steven Sinofsky has run a complete smooth demonstration of the new operating system on a test system with just a 1GHz processor and 1GB of RAM.

Other additions echo previous last-minute leaks and include Device Stage, a central hub for synchronizing and managing cameras, media players and other devices; a new animation framework; and much more advanced hardware feature support, including very high DPI displays, built-in Bluetooth file transfers and multi-touch input.

Microsoft doesn't say when it expects to release Windows 7 but notes in its presentation that there will be one main beta followed by a feedback stage, a late customer experience beta, and a release to manufacturing, suggesting that the company may skip its more traditional multi-beta and release candidate stages for outside users. Previously, the company has said it hoped to release Windows 7 in early 2010 and may need to start shipping the OS in late 2009 for this to take place. [images viaArs Technica]

"underlying framework of Vista." Holy Cow, they are still not fixing the broken part. The part that meets the interface to the other people's hardware "Drivers".Still chained to and building on DOS after all these years.

Ok, I have been testing the KDE 4.1 on ubuntu and it not only looks like this, but a lot of the concepts are really ..... converging. It seems that what OS X has had for the last 6 years is where everyone else is headed too. KDE 4.1 is looking almost good enough to switch to full time. I would guess that the next couple of releases will really put it ahead of windows and probably even OS X. Nothing like a little competition to keep things interesting.

I disagree, these screenshots are hideous they look nothing like a Mac.The other big problem with Vista is the annoying security warnings and the continuous message boxes that ask you to buy this and install that and update this and pay for Norton and that Norton is deactivated for this feature and that Norton wants to do your sister... sheeesh!

one would think this is GUI that is used by home users and not the corporate world, home users being kids under 12. There is an over designed look to the whole thing, shiny with fruity colors all vying for your attention, is that what a user interface is suppose to look like? I (fortunately) do not use a windows machine but I hear from switchers it's the stuff you don't see that's the problem. Microsoft is the McCain/Palin of the computer world, lipstick on an old creaky core.

I don't like the "glassy" look of Vista/7 or the fisher-price look of XP either. Win2k was relatively clean, and really if you look back and compare 2K to Mac OS 10.0/10.1/10.2, wasn't too bad. They should have extended the interface along those lines.

Instead, it seems that they steal the flashiest or worst elements of Mac OS, and somehow forget to steal most of the good stuff. About that new task bar, though: I still don't like it, but it sounds like they definitely improved it. They stole from the Dock, but at least they didn't steal icon shrinking, and center alignment.

You gotta love these guys at MS. They steal the general concepts of OS X, but then hand the actual GUI design to colourblind infantalised retards on crack.

from the screenshots in this story, it would seem that MS has officially added The Dock, the Tiger Finder and iTunes-style organisation to "their" technologies. Love the headache-inducing "blurry background" feature, that's their only "innovation!"

You gotta love these guys at MS. They steal the general concepts of OS X, but then hand the actual GUI design to colourblind infantalised retards on crack.

from the screenshots in this story, it would seem that MS has officially added The Dock, the Tiger Finder and iTunes-style organisation to "their" technologies. Love the headache-inducing "blurry background" feature, that's their only "innovation!"

You guys are funny. You yell and scream about how the Mac is so much better. And then yell and scream some more when you allege someone copies it. If it's so good, then shouldn't everyone be copying it.

I still don't understand why you fanboys hate competition. Someone want to explain it to me? Why does it bother you that another operating system is improving? Let's say Microsoft did steal from Apple, in what way does that affect you? It doesn't change your experience whatsoever.

The only explanation is your insecurity. Perhaps deep down inside, you don't think it's so great, because if you did, there would be no reason to waste your time complaining about something that only improves the experience of someone else, and doesn't negatively impact yours whatsoever.

Apple would be a much more glamorous company if its fans weren't such children.